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SCARS™ Victim’s Stories: Australian Scammer’s Mule Grandmother Who Faced Death By Hanging In Malaysia Has Had Her Conviction Overturned
An Australian Grandmother Who Faced Death By Hanging Over Importing Ice Into Malaysia Has Her Conviction Quashed After Claiming She Was Duped By Her Cambodian Boyfriend
The Australian woman who faced death by hanging has had her conviction overturned – Maria Exposto was sentenced to death after being convicted of smuggling ice for her romance scam “boyfriend.”
She’s now set to be freed after the Malaysian court accepted her version of events. Exposto had always claimed she was duped into 2014 crime by an online boyfriend and has spent the last 5 years in a Malaysian prison.
An Australian grandmother who faced death by hanging after being found guilty of importing the drug ice into Malaysia has had her conviction overturned.
Maria Exposto claimed she was duped into carrying ice by a drug dealer masquerading as a US Army captain.
The mother-of-four was sentenced to death last year after she was convicted of smuggling crystal methamphetamine through Kuala Lumpur International Airport in 2014.
She is now expected to be released after Malaysia’s Federal Court accepted she fell victim to an online romance scam, ABC News reported.
Exposto has claimed she was duped into the crime by an online boyfriend who went by the name ‘Captain Daniel Smith’ and pretended to be a US soldier in Afghanistan.
The fictional soldier had been created using videos and photos which had been stolen from a British naval officer.
Exposto said ‘Smith’ told her he was leaving the military and needed her to pick up his discharge papers and take them to the US embassy in Australia.
The pair had arranged to meet in Shanghai.
But after failing to meet her supposed love interest, she ended up being given a bag by one of his ‘friends’, who asked her to take it to Melbourne.
When she arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport to change flights, she mistakenly went through immigration as she was unfamiliar with the airport.
She voluntarily offered her bags for customs inspection and the drugs were discovered hidden inside the lining of the bag.
Exposto said ‘Smith’ had asked to marry her in September 2013 at a time when her relationship with her husband was getting ‘a bit sour’.
‘He made me feel loved, he made me feel wanted,’ Exposto told the previous court hearing, saying the supposed US serviceman would send her photos of himself.
‘Smith would sing to me a few times a day and send love poems as well,’ she added.
A professor from the University of Melbourne specializing in cybersecurity had said during the grandmother’s trial she was a ‘textbook romance scam victim’.
‘I didn’t make up my mind until I went through all the data available and until I interviewed Maria. She didn’t have to have her bags checked. She volunteered,’ professor Monica Whitty said.
Exposto was originally found not guilty but prosecutors appealed the verdict and won and the mother was sentenced to death.
Exposto’s lawyers said on Monday they were confident the death sentence would be overturned.
‘We’re very confident. We have always maintained that the facts have always been as Maria said,’ her lawyer, Muhammad Farhan Shafee, said.
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A Note About Labeling!
We often use the term ‘scam victim’ in our articles, but this is a convenience to help those searching for information in search engines like Google. It is just a convenience and has no deeper meaning. If you have come through such an experience, YOU are a Survivor! It was not your fault. You are not alone! Axios!
A Question of Trust
At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish, Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors experience. You can do Google searches but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
Statement About Victim Blaming
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and to not blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to help victims avoid scams in the future. At times this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims, we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
Psychology Disclaimer:
All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only
The information provided in this article is intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here to go to our ScamsNOW.com website.
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